Mt. Townsend

IX

I go by a field where once
I cultivated a few poor crops.
It is now covered with young trees,
for the forest that belongs here
has come back and reclaimed its own.
And think of all the effort
I have wasted and all the time,
and of how much joy I took
in that failed work and how much
it taught me. For in so failing
I learned something of my place,
something of myself, and now
I welcome back the trees.

Wendel Berry

The same three friends hiked up Mt. Townsend this summer. About 7 miles, I think, not sure, and the highest point is 6280 feet. I think we gained about 3000 feet. I was so tired the next day! But, it was fun and so was our room at The Waterstreet Hotel.